Automatic block system.



H. G. KURTZHALS. AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED on. 22, 1912.

Patepted May 12, 191%.

5 14 ue wtot J'Z Mzfim Z5 G. KUBTZHALS, OF SQMTJR-SET PENNSYL' FATDl'IJ -A.

AUTQIEATIC BLOCK SYSTEM.

Speeifichtion of Letters .Patent. Pay- Application filed Qctober 22. 1912. Serial No. 727,179.

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Be it i310? .1 tnat l, Henna G. lion-mining, e citizen of the Uxited States, residing at Somerset, in tr e county of Somerset and State of Penns -l'mnia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Block Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relntes to a block scm for railroads. the prinniry ooyect t' 'eoj' iug provide electrical sprariitis e int: section or the successiv bloc oted to he controllel l,

i de ices at these points nenever the signal arm nosition ti t h i, upon it ilillll which may ciocr to actuate coi -i out i i signal devices Within the engine cab in th s manner. the engineer is notified pose 1.3 13, of the presence of a train in an an *ance bloclt. should such t upon passing the signal mast disposed at the ide of tracl: to him of this fact,

nus prci'enting danger of collision when he engineer fails to see the track signal, due to adverse weather conditions or like A further oliect of the intention is to this character which 18 provide a device of 3* simple in construction. and which Will etlicient and re in action. 0 on s' bot vi -1.) him nose o ici o ce s in new. l, is invention consists certain novel features of CO11ST111JUGT1,-COH1 Action and arrangebe hereinafter decondition exist,

due to its attachment B and C designate the insulated truck tions or bloc s or 21 l'zlllIOirfil, each track ach block and which have the vertically F which letter are ng signal {lflllS adapted to he Opel-st I I; post 16 to one 18. the other terminal connected by suit 4 the track rail 2 advance of t' I l tion is shown nest o e oi the dranin is thus n'ioru disposed in most. This construcarlv in 1 and 2 Let member 16 rod The contact llXGCl to the upper end 00K, and i slower end or apex is CO1l?' .'t(l oy means 41" a. conductor a binding post Zr. From thence a conductor 22 extends to its ointof attncluuent with an auxiliary rail which rail is disposed in advance of the track section. This auxiliary contact rail may be disposed between the main track rails or at either side thereof, it being necessnryto have the upper Contact surface 2%. thereof disposed short distance shove the level of the tread surface or" the main rails, in order to permit the train-carried contact shoe to be disposed high enough to preventits helary rail 23 as the train passes along, it be "ing maintained in firmcontact therewith duringlthe passage of the train by the action of the spring 26. The contact device 25' is connected by means of a conductor 28 with a lamp 29 and an audible signal such as a bell 30, which is connected preferably in series with the lamp, and a second conductor 31 connects these devices with one of the wheel axes 32..

In order to understand the operation of the device, reference should be had to Fig. 3 of the drawing, wherein a locomotive D is preceding a locomotive E along the track, the former being disposed in the block B whereas" the latter is located in the block 0. As there is no train in the block A, the signal arm located at the juncture, of the blocks A and B will be in-its lowermost, safety position, thus rendering the track device at this point'inoperative, due to the fact that the circuit closing device is in open position. I The signal arm at-the junctureof the blocks B and C, however, is in its elevated danger posit-ion, thus causing the circuit closing device in the track apparatus at this point to be in its closed position, one side of the track circuit being thus closed. As the locomotive E approaches the end of the block C, the contact shoe 27 carried thereby" will come in contact with the auxiliary rail at this point, thus completing the local circuit through the train carried audible and visual signal devices, thus insuring the proper stopping of the train by giving the engineer an unmistakable warning, even though he fails to see the signal arm at this point.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a signal mast having a vertically swinging semaphore arm, train signal circuit, of a circuit closer for one side of said circuit comprising a casing carried by the said mast and affording a vertical guide, a fixed contact member mounted within said casing in connection with one terminal of the said circuit and having a beveled under face, a movable contact member connected with the other terminal of the said circuit and mounted for sliding movement within the casing and having a beveled upper face for engagement with the beveled face of the fixed member, and means connecting the -movable contact member with the semaphore arm for supporting the former in engagement with the fixed contact when the said arm is in its uppermost danger position.

2. The combination with a signal mast having a vertically swinging semaphore arm, and a normally open train signal circuit, of a circuit closer for one side of said circuit comprising a casing carried by the said mast and affording a vertical guide, a fixed contact member mounted within said casing in connection with one terminal of the said circuit and having a beveled under face, a movable-contact member connected withthe other terminal of the said circuit and mounted for sliding movement within the casing and having. a beveled upper face for engagement'with the beveled face of the fixed member, means connecting the movable contact member with the semaphore arm for supporting the former in engagement with the fixed contact when the said arm is in its uppermost danger position, and yieldable means for maintaining the movable contact member in its lowermost, inoperative position.

8. The combination witha signal mast having a vertically swinging semaphore arm, and a normally open train signal circuit, of a circuit closer for one side of said circuit comprising a casing carried by the said mast and affording a vertical guide, a fixed contact member mounted within said casing in connection with one terminal of the said circuit and having a beveled under face, a movable contact member connected with the other terminal of the said'circuit and mounted for sliding movement within the casing and having a be eled upper face for engagement with the beveled face of the fixed member, and a flexible member connecting the semaphore arm with the movable contact member for supporting the latter in engagement with the fixed contact member when the said arm is in its uppermost danger position.

4. The combination with a signal mast having a vertically swinging semaphore arm, and a'normally open train signal circuit, of a circuit closer for one side of said circuit comprising a casing carried by the said mast and affording a vertical guide, a fixed contact member mounted within said casing in connection with one terminal of the said circuit and having a beveled under face, a movable contact member connected with the other terminal of the said circuit and mounted for sliding movement within the casing and having a beveled upper face for engagement with the beveled face of the fixed member, a flexible member connecting the semaphore arm with the movable contact member for supporting the latter in engage- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature ment with the fixed Contact member When 1n presence of two Witnesses. the sand arm 1s m lts uppermost danger po- T "T r r sition, and yieldable means provided in the HEBRY LJREAHALS casing in connection with the movable con- Witnesses: (not member for normally maintaining the 50s. COLLINS, same in its lowermost inoperative position. J. J. DOUGHERTY.

Copies of Zhis pain? may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. *3. 

